Advice for prescribers on the risk of the misuse of
pregabalin and gabapentin
Purpose of this advice
This document has been produced by healthcare professionals with support from
policy observers to provide:

information regarding the potential for misuse of pregabalin and
gabapentin

suggestions for a balanced and rational use of these medications
Who should read this advice on risk of misuse?
The statement will be useful to medical and non-medical prescribers of pregabalin
and gabapentin, and other healthcare professionals in primary and secondary care
and in secure environments including those working in:

general practice

pain medicine (acute and chronic)

substance misuse treatment and recovery

neurology and neurosurgery

rheumatology

orthopaedics
Key messages
Professionals prescribing pregabalin and gabapentin should be aware not only of the
potential benefits of these drugs to patients, but also that the drugs can lead to
dependence and may be misused or diverted.
Pregabalin and gabapentin have a well-defined role in the management of a number
of disabling long-term conditions, including epilepsy and neuropathic pain; and, for
pregabalin, generalised anxiety disorder. When used for pain the drugs do not work
for everyone but a proportion of patients benefit sufficiently to notice an improvement
in quality of life.
Practitioners should prescribe pregabalin and gabapentin appropriately to minimise
the risks of misuse and dependence, and should be able to identify and manage
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problems of misuse if they arise. Most patients who are given these drugs will use
their medicines appropriately without misuse.
Prescribing for patients with a known or suspected propensity to misuse, divert or
become dependent on these drugs may place these people at greater risks from their
use. Prescribers must make a careful assessment to balance the potential benefits
against the risks. However, it should be noted that such patients may also have a
higher prevalence of the indicated conditions for these drugs and some may benefit
from their use.
Patients who are offered these drugs need to have sufficient information to consent
to the treatment plan. Patients should be aware of the likely efficacy of the drugs for
management of their symptoms and also about the risk of harms, including
dependence.
While no patient should normally be excluded from access to medications that may
help them simply because of a current or past problem with misuse or dependence
(or because of concern about propensity to such risk), that concern is a proper and
relevant consideration in how, and even whether to prescribe these drugs.
Prescribing decisions should be discussed in full with patients and they should be
made aware of the importance of their co-morbidities and context in making a safe
prescribing decision.
Less harmful, alternative drugs can often be first-line treatments for the indicated
conditions for which pregabalin and gabapentin are now used, and may be tried
preferentially in higher risk settings or in patients who may be more likely to be
harmed by the drugs.
Clinical indications for gabapentin and pregabalin
The drugs are licensed in the UK for treating focal seizures and managing
neuropathic pain; pregabalin is licensed for treating generalised anxiety disorder. In
Canada and the US, the drugs are licensed for treating pain associated with
fibromyalgia and, although not licensed for this indication in Europe, are an
established part of the pharmacological repertoire of fibromyalgia management.
When these drugs are prescribed for neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia, they should
be prescribed for a test period to ascertain if they are effective. The dose should be
titrated up to the maximum tolerated within the suggested dose range. If the patient
has no improvement in symptoms, the drug should be reduced and stopped. If they
are successful, it is suggested that there should be a reduction on an annual basis to
ascertain ongoing effectiveness.
Gabapentin and pregabalin should usually be prescribed for their licensed
indications. Although the drugs are commonly prescribed for non-neuropathic pain
syndromes there is little evidence to support the practice and prescribers should
consider interventions more likely to help such as physical rehabilitation for back pain
and musculoskeletal pain. If a decision is made to prescribe the drugs for unlicensed
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indications, the rationale should be discussed with the patient, appropriate consent
acquired and all discussions clearly documented.
The pharmacology of pregabalin and gabapentin
The drugs have a similar mechanism of action and both have propensity for misuse.
Gabapentin and pregabalin are structurally similar drugs acting via the alpha-2-delta
subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. The mechanism by which the drugs may
induce dependence is not well worked out.
Gabapentin and pregabalin are associated with significant euphoric effects.
Individuals misusing gabapentin and pregabalin variably describe improved
sociability, euphoria, relaxation and a sense of calm. Gabapentin and pregabalin
have the propensity to cause depression of the central nervous system, resulting in
drowsiness, sedation, respiratory depression and at the extreme, death.
Both gabapentin and pregabalin have adverse effects on the central nervous system,
which are additive when used with other centrally acting drugs, particularly opioids
(see below).
The pharmacokinetic properties of pregabalin make the drug relatively more
dangerous than gabapentin in high doses. Pregabalin misusers are achieving these
effects by taking large quantities, ranging from 200mg to 5g as a single dose.
Evidence for misuse of pregabalin and gabapentin
Misuse of gabapentin and pregabalin has been noted for some years in clients
attending substance misuse treatment and recovery services, and within secure
environment settings. Currently, pregabalin appears to be more sought after for
misuse than gabapentin. There is a growing illegal market, and these drugs are also
being bought through online pharmacies.
There have been numerous anecdotal reports of misuse of gabapentin and
pregabalin, and the literature has been reviewed systematically. The abuse liability of
pregabalin has been described in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. Pregabalin
was also listed as a new recreational psychoactive substance by the relevant EU
agencies in 2010. Concerns about misuse of pregabalin in the US have led to it being
scheduled, indicating that it has abuse potential. Gabapentin and pregabalin have
been mentioned on death certificates as adjunctive substances in patients dying of
drug poisoning.
In the UK there is evidence that the drugs are readily available among those held in
secure environment settings, where they may be abused or used as a commodity for
trade. Prescribing per capita of pregabalin and gabapentin in secure settings is
double that in the community and this appears unlikely to represent differences in
prevalence of the licensed indications for the drugs in these populations.
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Prescribing trends
Analysis of electronic prescribing data (ePACT) for primary care prescribing of these
medicines during 2011 to 2013 reveals the following headlines:

in 2013 the total use in England of both these medicines was 8.2
million prescriptions. This represents a 46% rise in prescribing of
gabapentin and 53% rise in pregabalin prescribing since 2011

there is a wide variation in prescribing across the four NHS regions
which may, in part, be explained by social and demographic
differences between populations, but these may not fully account for
three times the prescription numbers seen in the north of England
compared to London (further data on gabapentin and pregabalin
prescribing is in appendix A)
Drug interactions
Pregabalin and gabapentin are predominantly excreted unchanged in the urine; they
undergo respectively negligible or no metabolism in humans. They do not inhibit drug
metabolism in vitro and are not bound to plasma proteins, so they are unlikely to
produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions.
If more than one central nervous system depressant is taken (eg, alcohol even in
small amounts, antidepressants, anti-emetics, anti-epileptics, antihistamines,
antipsychotics, anxiolytics, barbiturates, hypnotics, opioid analgesics, skeletal muscle
relaxants), the central nervous system depressant effects may be additive (of
drowsiness, sedation, respiratory depression and, at the extreme, death). There are
reports of respiratory failure and coma in patients taking pregabalin and other central
nervous system-depressant medicinal products. Cumulative central nervous system
depression, ranging from drowsiness to stupor, is particularly dangerous in situations
where alertness is needed. In 1994 it was estimated that as many as 600 traffic
accident fatalities each year in the UK could be attributed to the sedative effects of
psychoactive drugs.
There are particular issues in secure settings where deaths have been found to
involve drug and alcohol misuse or dependence, combined with physical and mental
health issues and illicit and/or diverted medication. In some cases, pregabalin or
gabapentin is found in combination with other central nervous system depressants in
addition to methadone and/or chlordiazepoxide prescribed for the management of
opiate and/or alcohol withdrawal.
Morphine can increase the bioavailability of gabapentin. Caution is needed when
these drugs are co-prescribed and the doses of both drugs may need to be modified.
Similarly, pregabalin appears to be additive in the impairment of cognitive and gross
motor function caused by oxycodone.
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Tapering gabapentin and pregabalin
If dependence on pregabalin or gabapentin, or other misuse or diversion, is
suspected or identified the patient should be reviewed and the concerns of the
prescriber should be discussed sensitively and documented clearly.
If dependence on prescribed medication is suspected or confirmed, the problem may
require specialist advice on managing the dependence. It may simply require
agreement on suitable controls on access to, and maximum daily use, of the drugs
being misused (when it is felt the medication is still needed for the management of
the original indication). Careful reassessment of the patient may lead to an
appropriate decision to offer a planned withdrawal of the medication, particularly if
the medication does not appear any longer to be required for the main clinical
indication.
If completely inappropriate use is confirmed (eg, if there is unequivocal objective
evidence that the drugs are simply being diverted) the drugs should be stopped.
However, in some cases patients may have diverted a portion of their treatment,
such as to a family member, and so adequate assessment is needed to try and
determine the most suitable approach in each case and context.
Suggested tapering schemes
The summary of product characteristics for gabapentin and pregabalin indicate that
both drugs can be discontinued over one week. A more gradual dose taper allows
observation of emergent symptoms that may have been controlled by the drug.
Pregabalin: reduce the daily dose at a maximum of 50-100mg/week.
Gabapentin: reduce the daily dose at a maximum rate of 300mg every four days.
Patient information
Patients need to be given information on the potential benefits of the use of
pregabalin and gabapentin for their conditions and the risks and reported side effects
of the drugs. Patients should be told about the potential for pregabalin and
gabapentin to lead to abuse or dependence. It is important for prescribers to have a
complete list of medications (including any over-the-counter products or illicit drugs)
that patients are taking so that hazardous drug interactions can be minimised or
avoided.
If there are features in the patient’s history that increase the likelihood of pregabalin
and gabapentin being misused, these should be discussed openly with the patient
and the rationale for prescribing suggestions and decisions should be discussed fully
and documented. Prescribers should evaluate the risks of continued prescribing and
make appropriate decisions regarding quantity of drugs prescribed and the intervals
at which the patient should be reviewed.
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Further reading
Baxter K (ed.) Stockley’s Drug Interactions. CNS depressants + CNS depressants,
Updated 20/07/09. Accessed 23/05/14 via www.medicinescomplete.com
Baxter K (ed.) Stockley’s Drug Interactions. Alcohol + Antiepileptics. Updated
06/11/12. Accessed 23/05/14 via www.medicinescomplete.com
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) Abuse and Misuse
Potential of Pregabalin: A Review of the Clinical Evidence April 2012.
www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/april2012/RC0348%20Pregabalin%20draft%20report%20Final.pdf
Farmer D (2013). The prescribing and management of gabapentin and pregabalin in
HM Prisons and Immigration Removal Centres in England.
www.medicinesresources.nhs.uk/en/Communities/NHS/SPS-E-and-SEEngland/Meds-use-and-safety/Service-deliv-and-devel/OffenderHealth/Gabapentinand-Pregabalin-Offender-Health-Audit-Report-and-Audit-Tool
Gabapentin and pregabalin abuse and addiction. Prescrire Int 2012;21(128):152-154
Gahr M, Freudenmann RW, Hiemke C et al. Pregabalin abuse and dependence in
Germany: results from a database query. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2013;69(6):1335-42
Maskell PD. Gabapentin and pregabalin abuse by heroin users. [electronic response
to Stannard C. Opioids in the UK: what’s the problem?] BMJ 2013.
www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f5108/rr/665800
PrescQiPP Bulletin and Briefing January 2014 Neuropathic pain: pregabalin and
gabapentin prescribing. www.prescqipp.info/pregabalin-in-neuropathicpain/viewcategory/202
Public Health England, Faculty of Pain Medicine Royal College of Anaesthetists,
Royal College of General Practitioners, British Pain Society (supported by the
Department of Health) (2013) Managing persistent pain in secure settings.
www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/persistentpain.pdf
Schifano F, Offizi S, Piccione M, Corazza O, Deluca P, Davey Z, et al. Is there a
recreational misuse potential for pregabalin? Analysis of anecdotal online reports in
comparison with related gabapentin and clonazepam data. Psychother Psychosom
2011;80(2):118-22
Schwan S, Sundstrom A, Stjernberg E, Hallberg E, Hallberg P. A signal for an abuse
liability for pregabalin - results from the Swedish spontaneous adverse drug reaction
reporting system Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66(9):947-53
Smith BH, Higgins C, Baldacchino A, Kidd B, Bannister J. Substance misuse of
gabapentin. Br J Gen Pract 2012;62:406-7
Spence D. Bad medicine: gabapentin and pregabalin. BMJ 2013;347:6747
Summary of Product Characteristics - Lyrica capsules. Pfizer Limited, last updated 4
March 2014. Accessed 23/05/14 via www.medicines.org.uk/emc
Summary of Product Characteristics - Neurontin 100mg, 300mg & 400mg hard
capsules and 600mg & 800mg film coated tablets. Pfizer limited, last updated 26
June 2013.Accessed 23/05/14 via www.medicines.org.uk/emc
US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Drug scheduling.
www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ds.shtml
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Appendix A. FP10 prescribing trends for pregabalin and
gabapentin in England 2011-13
The source of the following data is ePACT, which is centrally analysed by NHS
Prescription Services from FP10 prescriptions dispensed in the community. The data
has not been adjusted for population demographics so the information cannot be
used for detailed comparisons but provides an overview of the volume and cost of
prescribing of pregabalin and gabapentin.
Headlines
Figure 1 shows the number of prescriptions dispensed for pregabalin and gabapentin
during 2011, 2012 and 2013. Figure 2 shows the net ingredient cost for the same
time periods:

in 2013 the total cost in England for both these medicines was £237.9m
for 8.2 million prescriptions. Costs of pregabalin were £211.2m for 3.3
million prescriptions. This compares to £26.7m for 4.9 million
prescriptions for gabapentin

the average net ingredient cost per prescription in 2013 for pregabalin
was £63.60 compared to £6.37 for gabapentin

since 2011, when generic preparations became available, there has been
a 30% decrease in costs of gabapentin against a 46% rise in the number
of prescriptions. This compares to a 40% increase in costs and a 53%
rise in the number of prescriptions for pregabalin

there are significant regional variations in prescribing across the four NHS
regions as shown in figure 3. Even though the data has not been adjusted
for population or social demographics, these differences are unlikely to be
due to social and demographic reasons alone
Figure 1. Number of prescription items across England for gabapentin and pregabalin
4.5
Gabapentin
Pregabalin
Prescription items (million)
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
2011
2012
7
2013
Figure 2. Net ingredient cost (NIC) in England of gabapentin and pregabalin
250
Gabapentin
Pregabalin
NIC (£million)
200
150
100
50
0
2011
2012
2013
Figure 3. Variation between regional offices in prescribing of gabapentin and
pregabalin (BNF 4.8.1)
1.8
Gabapentin
Pregabalin
1.6
1.4
Items (million)
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
London Midlands North of South of London Midlands North of South of London Midlands North of South of
and East England England
and East England England
and East England England
of
of
of
© Copyright
England
England
England
NHSBSA 2014
2011
2012
2013
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Acknowledgements
Produced by an expert group comprising:
Cathy Stannard (chair), Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of
Anaesthetists
Iain Brew, RCGP Secure Environments Group and NHS England Health & Justice
Clinical Reference Group
Elsa Browne, Substance Misuse Management in General Practice
Steve Brinksman, Substance Misuse Management in General Practice
Beverly Collett, Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
Eilish Gilvarry, Faculty of Addictions, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Linda Harris, Royal College of General Practitioners
Katie Smith, East Anglia Medicines Information Service
Observers attended from:
Department of Health (Mark Prunty)
NHS England (Denise Farmer)
Public Health England (Melanie Earlam, Kieran Lynch, Mary Piper, Steve Taylor)
Jointly published by Public Health England and NHS England:
Public Health England
Wellington House
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London SE1 8UG
www.gov.uk/phe
Twitter: @PHE_uk
NHS England
PO Box 16738
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www.nhs.uk
Twitter: @NHSEngland
Promoting equality and addressing health inequalities are at the heart of NHS England’s values.
Throughout the development of the policies and processes cited in this document, we have:

given due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and
victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity, and to foster good relations
between people who share a relevant protected characteristic (as cited under
the Equality Act 2010) and those who do not share it

given regard to the need to reduce inequalities between patients in access to,
and outcomes from, healthcare services and in securing that services are
provided in an integrated way where this might reduce health inequalities
PHE publications gateway number: 2014586
NHS England publications gateway number 02387
First published: December 2014
© Crown copyright 2014
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